Self-dumping backhoe bucket

ABSTRACT

A small width for backhoe type tractors is adaptable for digging small trenches in relatively moist clay or compact materials. The rear closure portion of the bucket is pivotal and spring biased so as to normally force the material from between the tapered sides of the bucket by the combination of the spring force and gravity. Provision is made to latch the pivotal rear portion in a fixed position when digging loose or drier material.

I United States Patent [151 3,659,736 Butler 5] May 2, 1972 54] SELF-DUMPING BACKHOE BUCKET FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Delbert M. Butler, P. O. Box 314, Warner, 220,663 9/1958 Australia ..214/146 E Okla. 74469 Primary ExaminerGera1d M. Forlerza [22] F1199: June 8, 1970 Assistant Examiner-Jerold M. Forsberg [21] Appl' NO; 44,328 Attorney-Head & Johnson [57] ABSTRACT U-S- u s I s r t s I E A [51] Int. Cl. ..E02f 3/60 digging ll trenches i relatively moist clay or compact Field 0! Search 146 materials. The rear closure portion ofthe bucket is pivotal and 214/138 B, 138 C, 767 spring biased so as to normally force the material from between the tapered sides of the bucket by the combination of [56] References Cited the spring force and gravity. Provision is made to latch the pivotal rear portion in a fixed position when digging loose or UNITED STATES PATENTS drier material.

2,916,135 12/1959 Likens, Jr. ..198/144 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,730

//VVE/VTO/?. DELBERT M. BUTLER ATTORNEYS SELF-DUMPING BACKHOE BUCKET BACKGROUND PRIOR ART 885,049 Holcomb 2,834,128 Kolbe 3,032,900 Kashergen 3,l22,248 Campbell, et aI 3,380,604 Leese 873,655 Berkner 2,657,814 Smith 2,916,135 Likens 3,035,724 Clark, et al 3,176,863 Kuhl SUMMARY It is an object of this invention to provide a bucket for backhoe devices which is of relatively small width, is tapered inwardly rearwardly and includes a pivotal back portion which is initially operable by spring bias to a gravity dump position. As such, the invention overcomes the objections to the devices known heretofore in the prior art in that the back wall is freely movable independent of any separate linkage or operation of the backhoe operator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a partial side elevation of a backhoe showing the bucket of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the backhoe bucket of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now to the drawings, a backhoe tractor generally designated by the numeral includes a boom generally designated by the numeral 12 and which, more or less, is conventional. The boom is pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement relative to the tractor chassis by frame 14. Operation of the boom occurs in a manner well known to those skilled in the art utilizing a boom lift cylinder 16, a crowd cylinder 18 and bucket cylinder 20, the latter of which is adapted to pivot the bucket 22 about pivot point 24. For the most part all of these cylinders are double acting and are controlled by a hydraulic control device 26 positioned adjacent the operator's seat on the tractor.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 which describe the invention disclosed herein which is a relatively small width bucket and includes side plate members 30 and 32 which, as shown, taper from a substantially straight lower edge opening 34 upwardly inwardly. The side members form an arcuate upper opening and are retained in this position by at least one and preferably a plurality of cross members as for example rods 36 and cross bars 38, 40 and 42. It has been found that rounded rods are preferred along the forward half of the arcuate rear opening to prevent soil accumulation as that half portion engages the bottom of a trench being dug. Otherwise, if flat plate members are used, soil would accumulate between said members and the back plate 46.

At the forward most edge, soil cutting bucket teeth 44 are provided and further act to support the sidewall members 30 and 32 along the upper arcuate edge. Along the rearward most portion of the upper edge are necessary portions 60 and 62 for 5 attachment to the boom 12, which may vary in placement and type with different makes and models. The rearward portion of the bucket is closed by the back member 46 which is pivotal about shaft 48. The back member 46 is arcuate to substantially confonn with the back configuration of the bucket, is of a rigid material and is adapted to pivot asshown by the dotted lines of FIG. 2 from between the rear position to its downward position. A stop member 50 is a part of the back member and is adapted to strike the cross piece 42, once the back member has begun its travel downwardly and assists in dislodging the material retained within the bucket. The initial momentum of the back member 46 is supplied by a flat spring 52 or other type of resilient biasing means 52, which spring is fixed at one end to the cross member 38 and adapted to be retained in its upward limits against cross member 40.

In some instances it may be desirable to lock the back member 46 in a permanent position when digging through loose or dry material and in that instance an opening 54 is provided within the cross member 42 and within the back piece 46 to permit locking pin 56 to be inserted and retained therein.

In other instances, spring 52 is removably fixed to cross member 38, e.g., by bolts, not shown. As such the spring may be replaced with other springs of desired tension or completely removed depending upon soil conditions and the ability of the bucket to shed the soil or clay. In some instances the spring is capable of being adjusted to various spring pressures against the movable back member. In other instances the back member may be weighted as, for example, using thicker steel or weights added to the exterior opposite the center of the load.

What is claimed:

1. A trenching bucket, especially for a backhoe-type tractor boom, comprising:

two side plate members spaced apart to define an opening having substantially straight lower edges and arcuate upper edges, said plate members retained together along said upper edge by at least one cross member such that said plate members taper upwardly inwardly;

soil cutting teeth adjacent a forward end of said opening;

means rearwardly of said opening along said upper edge to pivotally connect with said tractor boom;

a back member of arcuate crosssection substantially similar to said upper edge and retained within said opening to pivot from a first position almost closing the opening formed by said upper edges to a second lower position, a stop member formed as a part of said back member and adapted to abut a cross member or means at said second position; and

spring means attached to a cross member and extending between said cross member and said back member so as to bias said back member toward said second position.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cross member along 60 the forward-upper edge includes at least one rounded rod.

3. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spring is a flat spring.

4. Apparatus of claim 1 including means to fixably retain said back member in said first position.

5. A trenching bucket, especially for a backhoe-type tractor boom, comprising:

two side plate members spaced apart to define an opening having substantially straight lower edges and arcuate upper edges, said plate members retained together along said upper edge by at least one cross bar member such that said plate members taper upwardly inwardly;

soil cutting teeth closing a forward end of said opening; means rearwardly of said opening adjacent said upper edge to pivotally connect with said tractor boom; 7 a back member of arcuate cross-section substantially similar to said upper edge and pivotal by gravity about a shaft at said forward end of said opening from a first position substantialiy closing the opening formed by said upper edges to a second lower position, a stop member formed as a part of said back member and adapted to abut a cross member or anvil means at said second position. 5 

1. A trenching bucket, especially for a backhoe-type tractor boom, comprising: two side plate members spaced apart to define an opening having substantially straight lower edges and arcuate upper edges, said plate members retained together along said upper edge by at least one cross member such that said plate members taper upwardly inwardly; soil cutting teeth adjacent a forward end of said opening; means rearwardly of said opening along said upper edge to pivotally connect with said tractor boom; a back member of arcuate cross-section substantially similar to said upper edge and retained within said opening to pivot from a first position almost closing the opening formed by said upper edges to a second lower position, a stop member formed as a part of said back member and adapted to abut a cross member or means at said second position; and spring means attached to a cross member and extending between said cross member and said back member so as to bias said back member toward said second position.
 2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cross member along the forward-upper edge includes at least one rounded rod.
 3. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spring is a flat spring.
 4. Apparatus of claim 1 including means to fixably retain said back member in said first position.
 5. A trenching bucket, especially for a backhoe-type tractor boom, comprising: two side plate members spaced apart to define an opening having substantially straight lower edges and arcuate upper edges, said plate members retainEd together along said upper edge by at least one cross bar member such that said plate members taper upwardly inwardly; soil cutting teeth closing a forward end of said opening; means rearwardly of said opening adjacent said upper edge to pivotally connect with said tractor boom; a back member of arcuate cross-section substantially similar to said upper edge and pivotal by gravity about a shaft at said forward end of said opening from a first position substantially closing the opening formed by said upper edges to a second lower position, a stop member formed as a part of said back member and adapted to abut a cross member or anvil means at said second position. 